Coupler



Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,194

E. P. KINNE COUPLER Filed Aqgust 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28 1926.

E. P. KINNE COUPLER Filed August 11. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet I I I l l 1 l l -L amkw Patented Dec. 28, lililti.

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EDMUNIS P. KINNE, OF ALLIANCE, OHIG, ASSIGNGR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COEPGBATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COUPLER.

Application filed. August 11, 1924. Serial No. 731,339.

This invention relates to draft mechanism and more particularly to couplers.

For some little time development work has been in progress for properly modifying the coupler shank of the type D coupler for use both in connection with horizontal and vertical keys and at the same time to increase the strength of draft connections, decrease the tendency to wear, bring the draft strains in a direct line with the yoke members and the draft key under direct shear, to not appreciably increase the weight of the coupler shank and to provide for the required freedom of movement of the coupler and associated yoke within the limits of allowed clearances.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and eificient commercially successful coupler meeting the requirements above outlined.

This and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed by the accompanying sheets of drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coupler shank embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views taken in the planes of lines 3-8, 4-4 and 55, respectively, of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a top plan View of draft mechanism showing somewhat diagrammatically the maximum sidewise swinging movement which is possible with the A R A coupler, as shown in dot and dash lines, and which is possible with the present design of coupler shank, as shown in full line, in each case the shanks being connected to a standard yoke and the shanks and coupler taking forward positions under draft, causing 2 -inch forward travel of the coupler and yoke, and

Figure 7 is a view somewhat similar tothat shown in Figure 6 with the exception that the coupler and shank are shown under buffing conditions with the maximum sidewise swinging movement of the two differ ent coupler shanks in question.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, my invention is illustrated in connection with a coupler 10 having a shank 11 with a vertical key slot13 and a horizontal key slot 12 which key slots intersect each other. At one time the standard type D coupler was provided only with the horizontal key way 12 and was connected to a yoke 14 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 by a horizontally arranged key 15 which passed through the horizontally arranged key slot 12, horizontal slots 16 in the yoke 14, and also aligned horizontal openings 17 in the draft sills 18. However, in accordance with demand, the type D coupler has been devel oped to provide in addition to a horizontal key slot, a vertical key slot which is shown in Figures 1 and 4. When only a horizontal slotwas required the vertical side wallsof the coupler shank took the outline as indicated by dot and dash lines shown at 19 in Figures 1, 6 and 7. In this connection it will be noted that the vertical side walls of the coupler shank extended forwardly from the butt end of the shank in substantially parallel planes until the points 20 were reached in the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1 which it will be noted passes through the horizontal and vertical key slots 12 and 13. The vertical side walls of the coupler from the points 20 then diverged forwardly at a constant angle as indicated by the dot and dash lines 21 until points indicated by reference character 22 were reached, whereupon the vertical side walls of the coupler shank diverged an increased amount, as indicated by the full lines 23. When only the horizontal key slot 12 was used the shank was of sufiicient strength when it was of a horizontal thickness, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 19 and 21 from the rear of the coupler shank to the points 22. However, by providing the coupler shank also with a vertical key slot 18 it became necessary to compensate for the metal displaced by said vertical key slot 13 and to maintain the coupler shank at least as strong if not stronger than the coupler shank ori inally was. To this end the horizontal dimension of the shank has been increased to increase the strength thereof, the metal being distributed as shown in full lines 24 extending from the rear points 25 of the coupler shank to the points 22 along the shank as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7. It will be noted that the present vertical sides 24 of this improved coupler shank lie in planes diverging from the points 25 at a constant angle to the till points 22 on the shank 11 thereby not only increasing the horizontal dimension and strength of the coupler shank at the key slots, but also eliminating the angular kinks as indicated at the points 20. In this way the coupler shank is made stifier under compression, as well as being increased in strength generally.

In increasing the horizontal width of the coupler shank at the rey slots 12 and 13 various problems were presented, including the permissible lateral or sidewise swinging movement of the coupler. in Figures 6 and 7 there is shown somewhat diagrammatically the amount of swinging movement the standard A R A coupler and the present coupler may take. The standard A R A coupler is shown in dot and dash line and is indicated generally by the reference character 26, a d the present coupler forming the subject-matter of this invention is shown in full lines and indicated generally by the reference character 27. En Figure 6 there is shown the maximum amount or": swivel or sidewise swinging movement possible under a draft of 2 -inch travel, the rear end of the yoke 1 1- being against the opposite side of the car from that shown at the front end. Under actual test with the conditions imposed in Figure 6, it has been established that the side swinging movement of the standard A It A shank is 2- inches and the side swinging movement of the proposed coupler as shown at 2? amounts to 2 inches. While the side swinging movement of the A it A coupler is greater than that of the present coupler 2?, having the increased di mension, both of said couplers meet the requirements and are over the A R A requirement of 1 /2-l1'1Cl'l side motion for the coupler shank. The conditions illustrated in Figure 7 are the same as shown in Figure 6, except the coupler is shown under butting conditions. T nder these circumstances the standard A A coupler 26 is permitted a 1 inch side travel, whereas the present coupler 2'? is permitted a l -inch side travel, both being over the A R A requirements of 1 inch side travel. Accordingly, in spite of the tact that the horizontal width of the standard type D coupler has been increased by virtue of adding the vertical key slot, permissible side swinging movements of the coupler are above the A F.- A requirements.

lVhile the horizontal key in the standard A R A coupler and in the present coupler is 1 inchesby 6 inches, it is not possible to use a 1% by 6-inch key vertically due to lack of clearance. For this reason the size of the vertical key has been set at 2 inches by 4 inches. While the vertical key is not equal in depth to the horizontal, 4 inches has been shown to be sufficient, as with a vertical connection there are not the same bonding forces encountered as there are with a horizontal key. Furthermore from a study of the various conditions it has been concluded that the 4-inch depth of the vertical key is the maximum obtainable without increasing the length of the shank of the coupler and at the same time keeping the rear walls of vertical and horizontal key slots in vertical alignment. By so doing, the bearing area for the horizontal key is increased over what it would be otherwise. T he width of 2 inches of the vertical key is selected not onl to give it increased sectional area, but to give it more eficctive bearing area. ll ith this present type of vertical key and key slot there will be no flowing of metal at the bearing between the key and ti o bearing walls of the key slot due to localized pressure.

By means of this arrangement a coupler shank having both horizontal and vertical key ways is provided which is adapted to meet the various requirements under service conditions.

it claim 1. A coupler having a shank with intersec-ting horizontal and vertical key slots, the vertical side walls of said shank diverging forwardly a constant angle from the rear of the shank to a point forwardly beyond said ots to increase the horizontal thick ness oi the shank at the key slots over the normal horizontal thickness of the standard type D coupler, whereby the shank is made stiffer under compression and the bearing area of said vertical key slot made relatively large to prevent flowing of metal due to localized pressure exerted by a vertical key on the bearing walls of said vertical slot.

2. A coupler having a shank with intersecting horizontal and vertical key slots, each vertical side wall of said shank diverging forwardly with respect to the longicentral vertical plane of said coupler shank from the rear of the shank to a point forward y beyond said slots to increase the horizontal thickness of the shank at the key slots over the normal horizontal thickness of the standard type D coupler, by the shank is made stitler under com ression and the bearing area of said key slot made relatively large to verticaprevent flowing of metal due to localized pressure exerted by a vertical key on the bearing walls of said vertical slot.

Signed at Alliance, Ohio, this 7th day of August, 1924.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

